Orange Coast College

Pirate women's soccer loses home opener to Cerritos

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

COSTA MESA - The Orange Coast College women's soccer team had several scoring opportunities, but was just unable to convert any of them.
Cerritos, on the other hand, only had a couple of chances and that would be enough to win.
Laura Alvarez scored the game's lone goal in the 42nd minute to lift the visiting Falcons past the Pirates, 1-0, in OCC's home opener.
"For some reason, we weren't as sharp as we've been in games past," OCC head coach Kevin Smith said. "We didn't connect on our passes and that hurt us. We need to be more committed to our offense -- and to win, sometimes you need a little luck too."
The Pirates (2-2) were 0-for-2 in both of those departments.
Two excellent scoring opportunities where kept out of the goal by the slightest of margins in the second half for OCC. Rachel Ronquillo ripped a low shot in the 53rd minute that was altered by the right hand of Falcons' goalkeeper Elizabeth Sanchez (six saves). The ball slowly rolled inches outside the left goalpost, keeping the Falcons in front.
In the 75th minute, a well placed free kick found the head of Pirate sophomore Nicole Huff, but her shot rang off the crossbar and out of play.
OCC outshot the 4-0 Falcons 14-11. Pirate netminder Katie Johnson had three saves.
Alvarez' goal came off a nice long pass from teammate Jackie Flores. The sophomore forward took the pass, dribbled down the right sideline and placed a shot over Johnson and into the upper-left corner of the net for the game's lone tally.
OCC will return to action on Friday at home against defending state champion Long Beach City, beginning at 3 p.m.